U.S. to withdraw 5,000 troops from Afghanistan, close bases – U.S. negotiator
The United States would withdraw almost 5,000 troops from Afghanistan and close five bases within 135 days under a draft peace accord agreed with the...
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Afghans, diplomats surprised by Trump plan to pull out troops
Afghan officials and America’s Western partners reacted with unease on Friday to reports that the United States planned to withdraw more than 5,000 of its 14,000...
US withdrawal from Syria will spark Islamic State revival
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said on Thursday a White House decision to withdraw from Syria will allow an Islamic State revival and threaten the battle in eastern Syria....
Mattis says US troop commitment to South Korea is ‘ironclad’
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis on Thursday assured South Korea of an “ironclad” commitment to its security, including keeping US troop levels unaltered, even as diplomats seek an...
House votes to support total Turkish troop withdrawal (Updated)
The House plenum on Friday approved a motion by the Green party for a resolution stipulating that any solution to the Cyprus problem should not...
Russia accuses US of ‘deadly provocations’ against its troops
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday accused the United States and its allies of orchestrating “deadly provocations” against Russian troops in Syria. Moscow has complained...
UN deny troop withdrawal talk
The United Nations have denied media reports claiming special representative (SRSG) in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar has spoken about the possibility of withdrawing the UN peacekeeping...
President’s proposals dismissed as ‘nothing new’
As the arrival of United Nations’ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Crans-Montana for day 9 of the peace talks was announced late on Wednesday, President...
Conceptual change in military thinking required for Cyprus breakthrough
By Alper Ali Riza The debate about security among the Cypriot commentariat is tribal. It is sprinkled with a virulent blend of nationalism and rustic...
Saying this deal is better than 2004 is really not the point
IN A SPEECH he made to his party’s supreme council last weekend, Disy leader Averof Neophytou said the following: “We are today discussing a...
Erdogan: Turkey in Cyprus ‘forever’ (Update with Akinci comments)
TURKISH President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday the Greek side was once again avoiding a solution to the Cyprus problem, warning that a solution without Turkey should...
House rejects resolution to outlaw guarantees and foreign troops
The House plenum on Friday shot down an urgent motion – by 28 votes against to 21 in favour – to pass a resolution rejecting...
Turkish Cypriots fear delayed impact of coup in the north
‘There is a real risk of a witch hunt as the uninformed point fingers without really knowing what is going on’ CONCERN, relief, and a...
Turkish troops kill 11 Syrians trying to cross border (Updated: Turkey issues denial)
Turkish border guards shot dead at least 11 Syrians, mostly from one family, as they tried to cross into Turkey from northwestern Syria, activists and...
Syrian forces enter Islamic State-held town near Palmyra
Syrian and allied forces, backed by Russian air strikes, entered the Islamic State-held town of al-Qaryatain on Sunday, having gradually surrounded it over the past...
Some U.S. Marines on ground in Iraq to fight Islamic – U.S. military
A detachment of U.S. Marines is on the ground in Iraq to support U.S. and coalition efforts against Islamic State, the U.S. military said on...
Germany outlines plan to support fight against Islamic state – media (Updated)
By John O’Donnell Germany could send 1,200 soldiers to the Middle East by the end of the year to support a coalition battling Islamic State,...
NATO chief says prepared to send troops to defend Turkey
By Robin Emmott NATO said it was prepared to send troops to Turkey to defend its ally after violations of Turkish airspace by Russian jets bombing...
Cyprus ‘still a national issue for Greece’
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has pledged that Athens would continue its efforts towards a Cyprus solution, saying he himself was the same age as...
NATO rejects Russia explanation on Turkish air space (Updated)
By Robin Emmott NATO on Tuesday rejected Moscow’s explanation that its warplanes violated the air space of alliance member Turkey at the weekend by mistake...